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Help please! scared.

Loretta04

Posts: 6
Joined: Mar 2014

Mar 08, 2014 - 9:57 am

I went into the hospital last month feeling so sick, and hurting in my chest , they did a ct scan on everything in my lower extremities with contrast and seen nothing, said it was gerd. I then went back in about a week later for terrible pain in my chest, they did a chest x ray , back x ray , ct scan of my neck and head , stress test, and other heart tests. I have a endoscope on Monday and Im scared to death. I know I have barrets , and I still hurt in , my chest and back and can't swallow . My GI dr says , he promises its not cancer, I think he is just trying to calm me down , and my family dr says she sees nothing in all those tests to make her believe its cancer. Im 44 and have young children, and gave done a lot of reading and stressing . They said the blood work was good as well. I just don't get why nothing was seen . I know my body and I know how I feel and I fear its not good. My question is . Would they not have detected something or seen something ? Please help .

Yes you are stressing out just like I did and still do. I had the same and went to the ER several times. Every test was done and nothing showed up. Acid reflux they kept telling me. I was worried about cancer or my heart. I have had a hital hernia and had surgery on it but it came back allowing my stomach acid to come into my esophagus at night. I now sleep with the head of my bed elevated and that really helps and I take prilosic daily. The endoscope will put your fears to rest because if there was anything there the CT scan would have found it. I know this because my husband is a cancer patient and the CT scan found his. Believe me I know how hard it is not to worry and stress but when you do you are just producing more acid reflux. Try putting the head of your bed up on blocks -- 3 inches should be enough. This is better than sleeping with several pillows.

Loretta04, Try not to be scared. Sounds like you are taking control and getting some things done. I was diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer the first part of December of 2013. I had issues with swallowing and went in for a scope and thats when they found a tumor in my lower Esophagus. My blood counts were also way outta wack. Through some of the research I have done I have found that some times you can have a growth in your esophagus and it won't be cancer! Keep your chin up and get the scope done. I believe the best test to have done would be a PET Scan. PET Scans show cancer! My cancer was diagnosed as stage 4 because it had spread to my liver, spine, hip and both shoulders. I've been doing chemo treatments since the 27th of December and will have my last one next week. Then another PET Scan.

The ct scan was not done of my chest , this is what scares me . My chest kills me and pils feel like they get stuck in my chest . Its so scary . They only did ct on my head , neck , x ray of my chest, then ct the rest of me , pancrease, liver, stomach, kidney , female inners that kind of stuff. I have 2 girls 16 and 8 and I am just freaking out. Have been taking my girlfriends xanax to calm myself down . I hurt so bad in my breast bone , and back and hard time swallowing . Im trying to stay calm ..... I have never been a person that gets this frightened. I don't sleep at all. I know my doctors have told me they don't see anything that would suggest its cancer, but like I said I think they will say anything to calm a fewak out patient down . The GI Dr actually said , I promise you its not what you think. Of course it was only him and I in his office. He was only going off the tests from the hospital, not sure how you can possibly say that to someone . I know I know ..... freaking out . I can also feel it when I take a breath . Its very sore to the touch on my sternum between my breasts and to the left side by my chest . Ugh! I did have a ct scan with contrast of my chest last Aug , they said everything looked fine in the Er. I just don't get this nonsense. Why has no one caught anything?

PET scans are the one of the best indicators of cancer. CT scans can show problems but not as sensitive to cancer cells as the PET. I'm 46, diagnosed stage 2 EC in November 2013 by upper endoscopy. I'm sure you are scared because of the uncertainty but remain positive - the mind and brain are powerful. go through the test and then deal with the answer whatever it may be. I have 2 daughters which makes "being sick" so much worse but it also keeps me keeping on! Be positive and I will be praying for good results!

The not knowing is the worst part of the process - we've all been there. Heck everytime we go back for another CT scan there's that big unknown that want's to try and smother you. If you are making yourself even more ill with worry then ask if your primary with prescribe something like Xanax. The first few weeks for me I had to take it if I was ever going to get more than a couple of hours of sleep each evening.

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